Virginia

IEEFA Research

IEEFA U.S.: FERC gives blank check approval to pipeline builders, while investors and consumers pick up costs

IEEFA U.S.: FERC gives blank check approval to pipeline builders, while investors and consumers pick up costs

Commission’s 21-year-old pipeline policy puts contracts ahead of utility customers

December 17, 2020 (IEEFA) — The federal agency responsible for approving interstate gas pipeline projects is basing its decisions on contracts rather than on today’s consumer energy needs or the public interest, according to a report released today by the Institute for Energy Economics and Financial Analysis. The report—FERC’s Failure to Analyze Energy Market Forces—details […]

, and December 17, 2020 Read More →
IEEFA U.S.: Virginia coal plant’s future isn’t bright: preparation for transition should commence now

IEEFA U.S.: Virginia coal plant’s future isn’t bright: preparation for transition should commence now

Virginia City Hybrid Energy Center (VCHEC), one of the newest in U.S., risks closure due to market forces

December 16, 2020 (IEEFA)—Retiring the Virginia City Hybrid Energy Center (VCHEC) will bring unnecessarily abrupt economic hardship to Wise County if state and local officials do not begin to plan now for a transition, concludes a report published today by the Institute for Energy Economic and Financial Analysis. The 8-year-old coal-fired power plant, owned by […]

, and December 16, 2020 Read More →
IEEFA U.S.: Investors in gas-fired projects in largest regional power system face substantial risks

IEEFA U.S.: Investors in gas-fired projects in largest regional power system face substantial risks

Eleven PJM projects under development may fail to prove financially viable

October 5, 2020 (IEEFA) — The landscape for developers of natural gas-fired power plants in the nation’s largest regional power system has shifted dramatically over the last decade, according to a joint study by the Applied Economics Clinic and the Institute for Energy Economics and Financial Analysis. The Pennsylvania-New Jersey-Maryland (PJM) system coordinates the flow […]

, and October 5, 2020 Read More →

IEEFA U.S.: Long-term contracts with American Municipal Power (AMP) saddle local communities with high prices

Dozens of communities in five states pay far above market price for electricity from Prairie State coal plant and Ohio River hydro projects

September 21, 2020 (IEEFA) — Long-term contracts with American Municipal Power (AMP) have stuck 83 communities in 41 counties across five states with extraordinarily high electricity prices for half a century, according to a briefing note released today by the Institute for Energy Economics and Financial Analysis. The largest AMP member, Cleveland Public Power (CPP), […]

and September 21, 2020 Read More →
IEEFA report: Coal-fired power generation collapsing across Southeast U.S., longtime bastion of the industry

IEEFA report: Coal-fired power generation collapsing across Southeast U.S., longtime bastion of the industry

Decade-long influx of cheap gas started regional transition; solar expected to finish it

Oct. 1, 2019 (IEEFA U.S.) – Abundant gas supplies have transformed the electricity-generation sector in the traditionally coal-dominated Southeast U.S. Planned new solar construction in the region will add momentum to the energy transition and likely lead to the zeroing out of all coal generation in a number of states in the near future, finds […]

, and October 1, 2019 Read More →
IEEFA report: The vanishing case for the Atlantic Coast Pipeline

IEEFA report: The vanishing case for the Atlantic Coast Pipeline

Declining demand and more affordable renewables raise new questions about viability

January 29, 2019 (IEEFA) — Diminishing consumer demand coupled with more affordable renewables are casting doubt on the overall feasibility and potential profitability of the Atlantic Coast Pipeline, according to a report released today by the Institute for Energy Economics and Financial Analysis (IEEFA) and Oil Change International. The report, The Vanishing Need for the Atlantic […]

and January 29, 2019 Read More →
IEEFA report: U.S. likely to end 2018 with record decline in coal-fired capacity

IEEFA report: U.S. likely to end 2018 with record decline in coal-fired capacity

Utilities accelerate shutdown dates; 22 plants in 14 states this year; hard-hit regions include the Ohio River Valley

Oct. 25, 2018 — U.S. coal-fired power plant closures are on pace this year to set a record, concludes a research report published today by the Institute for Energy Economics and Financial Analysis. The report — “Record Drop in U.S. Coal-Fired Capacity Likely in 2018: Utilities Are Accelerating Shutdown Dates as Plants Grow Increasingly Uneconomic”— […]

and October 25, 2018 Read More →
IEEFA Research Brief: Coal in Decline, Blow by Blow

IEEFA Research Brief: Coal in Decline, Blow by Blow

Plant Closings and the Likely Effects on Specific Companies and Mines

We’ve published a research brief today that presents an expansive snapshot of a moving target: the decline in U.S. coal-fired generation nationally. As global energy markets continue to undergo rapid transformation, change has swept the U.S. as well. Our brief—“U.S. Coal Phase-out, Blow by Blow: Plant Closings and the Likely Corresponding Effect on Specific Companies […]

April 21, 2017 Read More →
Two Pipeline Expansion Projects in Appalachia Indicate a Rush Toward Overbuilding

Two Pipeline Expansion Projects in Appalachia Indicate a Rush Toward Overbuilding

Mountain Valley and Atlantic Coast Pipelines Pose Risk to Ratepayers, Communities, and Investors

We’ve published a report today that concludes that two natural gas pipelines proposed for construction from West Virginia into Virginia and North Carolina are indicative of a rush toward industry overbuilding. The study, “Risks Associated With Natural Gas Pipeline Expansion Across Appalachia,” examines the proposed Mountain Valley Pipeline, which would traverse West Virginia into eastern […]

April 27, 2016 Read More →
Report: No evidence of a turnaround at Prairie State

Report: No evidence of a turnaround at Prairie State

No Evidence of a Turnaround at Prairie State (pdf) By David Schlissel, Director of Resource Planning Analysis

September 25, 2014 Read More →

More News and Commentary

Total takes first big step into U.S. utility-scale solar market

Renewables Now: French energy giant Total SE has signed an agreement with 174 Power Global to create a 50/50 joint venture (JV) aimed at developing 12 utility-scale solar and storage projects for 1.6 GW of combined capacity in the US. Total said Thursday that these projects have been transferred from a pipeline developed by 174 […]

January 14, 2021 Read More →

Dominion files construction plan for 2.6GW, $7.8 billion Virginia offshore wind project

Virginia Business: Richmond-based Dominion Energy Inc. announced Friday it has filed the required construction and operations plan (COP) with the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management to build the utility’s proposed $7.8 billion, 2,640-megawatt Coastal Virginia Offshore Wind (CVOW) project. “This is an important step in the process toward bringing commercial-scale offshore wind to the commonwealth […]

December 22, 2020 Read More →
IEEFA U.S.: FERC gives blank check approval to pipeline builders, while investors and consumers pick up costs
, and

IEEFA U.S.: FERC gives blank check approval to pipeline builders, while investors and consumers pick up costs

Commission’s 21-year-old pipeline policy puts contracts ahead of utility customers

December 17, 2020 (IEEFA) — The federal agency responsible for approving interstate gas pipeline projects is basing its decisions on contracts rather than on today’s consumer energy needs or the public interest, according to a report released today by the Institute for Energy Economics and Financial Analysis. The report—FERC’s Failure to Analyze Energy Market Forces—details […]

, and December 17, 2020 Read More →
IEEFA U.S.: Virginia coal plant’s future isn’t bright: preparation for transition should commence now
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IEEFA U.S.: Virginia coal plant’s future isn’t bright: preparation for transition should commence now

Virginia City Hybrid Energy Center (VCHEC), one of the newest in U.S., risks closure due to market forces

December 16, 2020 (IEEFA)—Retiring the Virginia City Hybrid Energy Center (VCHEC) will bring unnecessarily abrupt economic hardship to Wise County if state and local officials do not begin to plan now for a transition, concludes a report published today by the Institute for Energy Economic and Financial Analysis. The 8-year-old coal-fired power plant, owned by […]

, and December 16, 2020 Read More →

Dominion cancels plans for $200 million, 500MW gas peaking plant in Virginia

Danville Register & Bee: Dominion Power, which had hoped to invest about $200 million in a power plant at the Southern Virginia Megasite at Berry Hill, has canceled its plans at the site. “We no longer believe it is possible to build the units planned in Pittsylvania County despite the economic and reliability benefits for […]

December 4, 2020 Read More →

Developer Equitrans raises cost of contested Mountain Valley Pipeline to $5.8 billion

The Roanoke Times: The Mountain Valley Pipeline has once again pushed its completion date back and the project cost up. Equitrans Midstream Corp., the lead partner in a joint venture of five energy companies that has faced widespread environmental problems while building the natural gas pipeline, made the announcement Tuesday. Rather than completing construction early […]

November 4, 2020 Read More →

Dominion Energy moving forward with 498MW of new solar projects in Virginia

S&P Global Market Intelligence ($): Dominion Energy Virginia announced Nov. 2 that it is planning to build nine solar farms in Virginia totaling 498 MW as a part of an effort to comply with the state’s new law that mandates 100% of electricity sales be sourced from clean energy by 2045. The projects are subject […]

November 3, 2020 Read More →

Stop-work order lifted on Mountain Valley pipeline project

Associated Press: Mountain Valley Pipeline has another two years to finish a natural gas pipeline. The Roanoke Times reports that the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission [FERC] also lifted a stop-work order for all but a 25-mile segment of the interstate transmission line that includes the Jefferson National Forest and adjacent land. While acknowledging problems with […]

October 12, 2020 Read More →
IEEFA U.S.: Investors in gas-fired projects in largest regional power system face substantial risks
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IEEFA U.S.: Investors in gas-fired projects in largest regional power system face substantial risks

Eleven PJM projects under development may fail to prove financially viable

October 5, 2020 (IEEFA) — The landscape for developers of natural gas-fired power plants in the nation’s largest regional power system has shifted dramatically over the last decade, according to a joint study by the Applied Economics Clinic and the Institute for Energy Economics and Financial Analysis. The Pennsylvania-New Jersey-Maryland (PJM) system coordinates the flow […]

, and October 5, 2020 Read More →

Dominion, Orsted begin producing power from 12MW offshore wind pilot in Virginia

Offshore Engineer: Dominion Energy and Orsted have brought online two offshore wind turbines, which are part of the 12-megawatt Coastal Virginia Offshore Wind (CVOW) pilot project, offshore Virginia Beach, USA.  “We’re excited that the two CVOW wind turbines are officially generating power as electrical and reliability testing gets underway 27 miles off the coast of […]

October 1, 2020 Read More →
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